So, you’re getting enough sleep and still you have dark circles under your eyes and on your eye lids? It’s frustrating, makes you look like you’re always tired and it makes you feel old. So what do you do?
Ok, first are you really getting enough sleep? Second, is it just dark circles or have you got a matched set of luggage going as well?
If you got a carry-on hanging out under each eye, start each morning with a cold compress over your eyes. You can make a cold compress by using Mint Tea Bags dampened with chilled water and held over your eyes for 10 minutes. This will shrink the capillaries in your skin and reduce the swelling.
Another option to reduce swelling is by taking dry spoons frozen for an hour and cupped over your eyes for 5 minutes (DO NOT use wet spoons frozen or you will lose your eye lashes!!).
Third option is using a dab of Preparation H under your eyes for 15 minutes (Caution this is a medicated product and should not be used if you suffer from Thyroid issues/disease). All of these will work wonders for your eye luggage.
As for the dark circles for a quick fix you want to use a good orange color corrector. My preferred brand choice is the Dark Circle Concealor by NYX Cosmetics, Medium. It runs about $6 over the counter and works wonders. This shade works for most skin colors if applied sparingly.
A small note here, Color Correctors are NOT concealers. They are not supposed to be applied heavily, their purpose is to neutralize the undertone of your dark circles so when you do apply your foundation and concealer the bluish/bruised tone of the dark circles will not bleed through giving your eyes a dark/bruised appearance.
There are many shades of color correctors out there, but for dark circles you want orange. Why? Because Orange is opposite of Blue on the color wheel and basically colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel will neutralize each other.
To apply you can use your finger tips and apply lightly and blend out, or use a small concealer brush and apply lightly with gentle sweeping motions that move down and away from your eye.
Now after you’ve applied you color corrector lightly and well blended you can go ahead and apply your concealer as usual. Now, should you still feel that you are a little dark under the eyes you can choose to use a concealer about a ½ shade lighter than your skin, this will help further brighten your under eye. But I should note that too light of a shade can make you look like a reverse raccoon so use your discretion.
Using the tips of your fingers lightly dab this on. You don’t have to do it heavy and completely get rid of every trace of shadow you got going on. It’s just one step to the whole process.
Second, apply your liquid foundation over your whole face and under your eyes and over your eye lids like you normally would. Apply your powder, being careful to apply underneath your eyes, this will give a smoothness and help cover up the last vestiges of under eye shadow.
This four step process should remove any trace of dark shadows. Remember, it’s a building up process so you don’t have to be heavy handed with your products as this will just make you look like you are wearing a mask. So take your time, build up each layer carefully and blend out well and you will be dark circle free!
Method Makeup Academy, Seattle’s Makeup School
